SORREL 2019

When the flyer for Sorrel came out, I was interested as I saw some of my favorite Christmastime delicacies and thought it would be a nice Christmas party to go to.

The event was scheduled from 11-5 so figured 1pm would be an ideal time to arrive.  This gives me time to eat without rushing and another 4/5 hours to party and drink.  Driving up, the parking looked sketchy but there was a parking lot right across the street and it was free. Double win!

After the short walk from the parking garage to what looked like a little clubhouse that we'd have to fight one another for breathing room, we walked right in.  Inside was beautifully decorated. Not too much, not too little and gave me a very different look than what I initially thought from outside.  Inside was very spacious and I was pleasantly surprised.  Once ticked and given a band, to the immediate left was where I could have stayed.  It was the food station. The first thing I saw were the cheese paste sandwiches.  There was bread, I could also tell that the bread was homemade. There were cupcakes, cake, sweet bread, eggs and my favorite, HAM!  Listen, I have no shame in saying that I think I singlehandedly ate all of the cheese paste sandwiches as I stayed in that little room stuffing my face for about an hour.  *rolls eyes cause I don't care.

Once I ate til my belly nearly buss, it was time to attend to my drinks.  The bartenders were very attentive and weren't overwhelmed.  There were just the right amount of bartenders to keep the crowd flowing and they made the drinks very well.  I actually tasted the alcohol and they didn't put too much ice the way many of these bartenders like to do.  That was appreciated and encouraged me to purchase more.  I felt like it was worth it.

So now I'm set.  Walking into where the party was actually taking place... the atmosphere was different.  There were large white curtains that separated the eating/social area from what I call the party area. CinCity had a large, single white table set up (which I called the V.I.P. because some very important people sat there) and many standing tables which were on two ends of the 'dancefloor'.  The set up was dimly lit with red lighting. I must say, there was certainly a 'mood'.  Throughout the party, people complained that the a/c gave out and that they were hot but I was quite comfortable and glad that I didn't experience that. It could also be because I was never stationed indoors throughout the event and kept making trips outside.

The music took me on a musical journey.  There was parang, old school and new music of all genres which I also appreciated.  We even got some Whitney Houston and New Edition!

This Sorrel will be an annual event brought to us by CinCity Entertainment and although this was only the 2nd Sorrel, I see this being one of the events that you can not miss once you're in South Florida for Christmas.  It was an amazing event and I have no complaints.

The food was finger licking worthy *and I did lick my fingers, the drinks and bar service was A-1 and we all know how I feel about music.  If the music isn't right, I am sour.  Man, we even got a sexy Santa.  Man an woman alike sat on Santa's lap! He was one of the Sorrel highlights.

 (the cheese paste)

(more treats)

Not one of the best pictures as lighting was dim but one of the most talked about 'things' at Sorrel.  Santa look like he could break me in two right?!

Should you be interested in having your next event catered by the catering service that catered Sorrel, you can call or message Tieesha from Not A Tie Catering food is ALWAYS on point! Click the link to check out the IG page or just take my word for it (cause I'm a little fatty) and call direct 305.724.4971.

CIN CITY ENTERTAINMENT'S BON AMI.....THE AFTERMATH

Bon Ami
Bon Ami
Bon Ami
What can I say about thee...

When the idea came to Cindy (the creator of this event and owner of Cin City Entertainment) to do this event, the word had been spread that Bacchanal Wednesday was cancelled, so she thought this would be a great alternative but she quickly learned how things change in a matter of moments. With Bacchanal Wednesday actually still on and 'Hurricane Matthew' lurking there were many challenges.

Signature cups were advertised to be given away upon entry until the supply last. Needless to say, I never received a cup.  I'm not too sure if they went fast or if I was just that late.  We will not 'discuss' how or why I got to the event a little past half past 1 am but I did and by that hour,  they were gone.... Poor me, I was still expecting one.  I walked through the fete literally giving people I saw drinking in them the side eye.  I know to get there earlier next year.

There were friends waiting for me in front of the venue so I had to be dropped off as the hubby parked the car.  Now, I don't know if where he parked was more crowded but from the looks of things where I was standing, it didn't seem like there were many people inside.  There was no line (which is always a plus for me) and a couple of people outside loitering.  As I approached the front door, I became confused.  The music was playing yet I didn't hear the echoing sound one would hear from the inside of an empty fete.  The ticket and wristband exchange was done quickly, I'd say less than a minute and inside I went.  Once inside, the fete was packed! Not shoulder to shoulder, sweat box, Brooklyn basement packed but comfortably packed.

The crowd was spirited.
No boring people.

Clem of The Original Army Boyz and DCARNIVALBABY

Cindy of Cin City Ent and Clem of Army Boyz

It felt like everyone was there to have a good time and free up themselves.  Drinks were priced right and not watered down like I've been experiencing lately and the vibes was just as the party was named....  A party with good friends.  Everyone knew everyone and and who didn't know you came with someone who did.  No one was leaned up on the wall waiting for the next person to dance, dancing without judgments nor a care in the world and that's how I like to party.  The absolute worst 'fete feeling' [for me] is to be in a fete and feel to dance and can't/don't because no one else is dancing because the minute you step out, everyone begins to watch like you're crazy.  It's really High School.  What else does everyone go for? Not to dance?  Thankfully there was none of that there and those are the vibes I'd like to see more at some of these parties in South Florida.


Giselle 'The Wassi One' hosted the event and the DJ's were Powerhouse, Code Red, Trini D Fyah Truck, Platinum Sounds and Eternal Vibes. Survivor Sounds was carded but I never saw him.  As I type, I've only now paid attention to the list of DJ's and I'm in awe...with the exception of Platinum Sounds, Cindy managed to not only pull off a great fete but she managed to do so with a local cast. Impressive.  Promoters, take note.

The music was nicely mixed.  One thing that grinds my gears is to hear the same music from each DJ and with the amount of them carded for the night, it would be easy to repeat a couple.  Surprisingly it didn't happen and it didn't happen because each DJ knew that if this played already, to play that or maybe even those. I won't lie to you and speak on what happened before 1:30 because I wouldn't have a clue but after that, was great.  No credit can be given to any DJ in particular because after getting there, drinks and dancing was a must and I had to make up for lost time.  I didn't pay attention to who played or when.  The one song that did play multiple times was Angela Hunte's Bon Ami.  Considering the fete is named Bon Ami, I think we could give Bon Ami (the fete) a pass.  As it was the theme of the fete, I believe it was done intentionally.  The last time that chune played, I grabbed my good friends and we danced in a circle...that is feting. That is an amazing time with true friends.  Especially as these friends came all the way from New York and Trinidad.

What few people didn't get a chance to experience closer to the end was Peter Wildfire (I guess that's how you say/spell it), Lyrical, Voice and DJ Stephens. There were performances and photo ops because none of them came on any superstar status, they came to fete with their good friends.  What "I" didn't experience was the food.  There was inclusive food.  Yes,  food included at that price!!! There was rice and peas/peleau, geera turkey and chicken catered by Sweet Hand Kathy and Sybil's Bakery provided jerk chicken, veggie lo mein and pone.  From what friends told me the food was warm as well as tasty.  I've eaten from Kathy already so that was a given and Sybil's Bakery is Jamaican owned so I know that jerk chicken was boss.  If only I could have experienced it....

This party was up against many odds and it turned out to be the success I hoped it would be. So if you want a party with a cool scene, mad vibes, no fashion parade, overly flashy clothing or 5 inch heels, Bon Ami is your best bet.  Two things I know for a fact is that 1, next year once God spare life....I'm in Bon Ami and 2, I will be there at a reasonable hour to receive my cup!

Bless.

FOG: THE AFTERMATH

Surprisingly I was not in a coma and was able to write this little blog about MY FOG experience Saturday.  Oh what a night!  This review will be in two parts.  I have to rate FOG: The Fete and then FOG: The Food. It's only right.  First up will be the food.  I got to the club at or about midnight which was fairly early. Parking was great! The crowd hadn't arrived yet so nothing was blocking me from seeing the food tables upon entry.  The area was clean and it was kept that way for the balance of the night. PLUS!

These trays consist of Wild Hog, Iguana, Duck, Chicken,Tattoo (Armadillo) and Fish. Everything was curried besides the fish.  The fish was steamed.

 

These trays had Roti, Green Fig/Green Banana, Cassava, Dumplings and Coocoo.  Who really knows me, knows that I am a lover of my belly and appreciate good food.  I'm so sick with it that I can tell whether food is good or bad with only my nose however, the strong smell of pepper when I approached the table scared me off.  It wasn't until later on in the night after receiving several confirmations that the pepper didn't sting but was just enough for taste that I tried some. What I did was taste everyone's plate until I had tasted everything.  Off each plate I picked off of, I felt it only right to ask the owners how they felt the food tasted.  Across the board mostly everyone thought the food was alright. Some more than others but all in all, not too much negative feedback was given. Of what I ate which was the tattoo, iguana, chicken, hog and duck.  I thought they all were okay. The true critic was a good friend (originally from Tobago) who's standards were set very high seeing as Tobagonians live for their ground food (provision) an wild meats.  "The best dish was the tattoo. It was seasoned well and gamy like wild meat should be". 

As for the coo coo and steamed fish.....who's idea was it to cook coo coo?  For an event such as this, I didn't expect to see coo coo but if yuh givin we coo coo, where was the callaloo?  If coo coo is left to sit and it didn't get enough okro (okra) or coconut milk it tends to dry.  The callaloo would have disguised it a little but hey, who am I to judge?  I knows nothing of what it takes to cook dishes for more than 15 people. The steamed fish was too sweet.  I myself didn't taste it but these were the reviews of quite a few people.  It could have been that too much ketchup was used (if it was Trinidad ketchup) or just plain old sugar.  Whatever it was, it was sweet and steamed fish isn't a sweet dish. All in all the portions were generous, nothing ran out ahead of time and the servings were unlimited. Food:  B-

FOG: The Fete.  People will pong me hard in public but will secretly agree when I say that South Florida is lacking when coming to the Caribbean Club Lifestyle.  I can't put a finger on what it is yet but the majority of the grown folk have this feeling and we can't all be wrong. How long can one wait on Clem to have a boat ride? Even then, there are but so many people that can fit on a boat..... anyway, that's another blog.  FOG was one of THE BEST fetes I have been to in a very long time.  If fetes were like this every weekend, I'd be there.  Hell, the people of South Florida would actually pay their money to come out every weekend. I've ruled out the people being the problem because the crowd was the same.  It was like the bar on the TV show Cheers.  Everyone knew everyone and if you didn't know someone, your friend did.  It was intimate and very comfortable.  It wasn't a social gathering.  Everyone danced, it was a party mixed with friends and everyone had a great time.  The music stuck to the soca and reggae genres and I'm good with that! The DJ's took us from old to new reggae and soca and we followed wherever they led.  Survivor ended the fete.  He too did not disappoint but does he ever? I'd love to give DJ Mad Trini some love seeing as I seldom see him on flyers but does mash up fetes.  He isn't getting the credit that he deserves.  The old music wasn't the same ole "Roll It Gyal" by Allison Hinds but throwbacks that we don't hear over and over each and every weekend like there's a quota to fill.  When we heard chunes rolling, it gave that OMG YES effect.  It has gotten to the point that more than a handful of us know exactly what the DJ's are going to play and when.  At my age and coming from Brooklyn, I've been to many a party an mash up many ah fete so keeping the older crowd happy is a task and as a DJ, you have to know how to please ALL CROWDS not just the young ones who now come out an feel they know music.  THE ONLY negative about this fete was that there were no bottles for immediate purchase once we arrived but that was sorted quickly and I can't knock the entire fete that.  The problem was addressed and handled within minutes.  Aside from that hiccup, it was so good that it could be overlooked.  Fete: A+

I already know what will be said once this blog is read but it's time for people to stop being afraid of saying what they want publicly because whispering and being fed up solves nothing. Pretending that satisfaction was granted will make DJ's and promoters alike feel there is nothing that needs to be changed and I am tired of hearing the same cries from each person I speak to concerning South Florida.  I'm from New York but I live in South Florida, what we don't want to happen is for the New York DJ's to come here and take over....because from what I'm seeing, that is already happening with Miami Carnival.  Which South Florida based party is still poppin for carnival? I'll wait.  Maybe CinCity Entertainment will take South Florida back because CinCity is promising to do just that.

Bless.